Hacking Illegitimate Gateway?

[Gamemaster1379]

EDIT: Erm, as it turns out--putting absolutely any sort of microSDXC in it solves the problem? The unit just underwent an FPGA update, so it's unlikely it's a fake unit (or if it is, it's a quality copy)

Got a Gateway in today, and having some difficulties with it. The unit came from ModchipsDirect. I ordered from there as I got my original Gateway unit from them and it has worked fantastically. However, this secondary unit is having an issue.

The new unit I got in today is acting unusually. Whenever it is inserted into either my 3DS or my brother's 3DS, the unit "shorts out". It makes a popping sound and the unit immediately turns off. Attempting to restart the unit shows the LED coming on, and then the unit turns off again.

A side by side photo of the Gateway units. On the left is the first flash cart I ordered a very long time ago. It works fine on either unit. On the right is the second flash cart I ordered more recently that has been shorting out. Visibly, the only difference I can pick up on is the logo on the right is different. It's darker and taller. However, I can't say for certain if this indicates fraudulent or just a different batch of branding stickers.

Again, both came from ModChipsDirect.

Do I need to tell them I got a fraudulent unit and ask for a refund?

 

[Click This]

Sounds more like a faulty unit to me.

 

[Gamemaster1379]

Sounds more like a faulty unit to me.

The label threw me

But erm, this is...rather embarassing--but it turns out it is fixed if I put a MicroSDXC in it...? The hell?

 

[SaggyBeans]

MicroSD or not, it should never make poping or shorting sounds. I would ask for a replacement.

 

[IronClouds]

MicroSD or not, it should never make poping or shorting sounds. I would ask for a replacement.

Pretty much this. Best to act now before it's too late and you end up regretting it.

 

[Gamemaster1379]

MicroSD or not, it should never make poping or shorting sounds. I would ask for a replacement.

Indeed. The original unit I have doesn't do this, and that doesn't sound like the typical nature of these cartridges. I'll likely request one ASAP.

 

[Gamemaster1379]

Pretty much this. Best to act now before it's too late and you end up regretting it.

For sure. I've already requested a replacement.

 

[Fulcaire]

When I ordered my Gateway, I ordered from ModChipDirect as well. First one I received was faulty and kept showing a black screen when I was doing all steps correct to setting it up.
Took about 3-4 weeks to go through getting it replaced.. but the one I finally got worked.
( Because I had to 1. Ship Mine Back 2. They shipped replacement as soon as I shipped mine out and gave them tracking number. 3. USPS lost it. 4.Had to request ANOTHER one and have them call USPS cause it was lost by them. 5. There "shipper" person was busy and couldn't ship it out until a week and a half - two weeks after the USPS lost it. Then FINALLY, i got it..)
It was truly, a mess. But MCD did everything they could and replied to my emails promptly. Usually fast with shipping too. so they aren't a shady business. its just i had a terrible experience with getting my Gateway.

 

[Tjessx]

I should send gateway an email, with the picture, and the question if they changed colors on the stickers

 

[Gamemaster1379]

When I ordered my Gateway, I ordered from ModChipDirect as well. First one I received was faulty and kept showing a black screen when I was doing all steps correct to setting it up.
Took about 3-4 weeks to go through getting it replaced.. but the one I finally got worked.
( Because I had to 1. Ship Mine Back 2. They shipped replacement as soon as I shipped mine out and gave them tracking number. 3. USPS lost it. 4.Had to request ANOTHER one and have them call USPS cause it was lost by them. 5. There "shipper" person was busy and couldn't ship it out until a week and a half - two weeks after the USPS lost it. Then FINALLY, i got it..)
It was truly, a mess. But MCD did everything they could and replied to my emails promptly. Usually fast with shipping too. so they aren't a shady business. its just i had a terrible experience with getting my Gateway.

USPS blows. I'd much rather use UPS. USPS has lost two packages of mine in the past year. One of which was a mouse, which they lost and reported lost specifically at a warehouse in Georgia, claiming it was still there. (So apparently they knew exactly where it was, but "lost" it?) They also took 9 weeks to ship a replacement CPU fan for my desktop that had 3 shipping on it once. Those were an awful two months in waiting.

That does sound pretty awful, but yeah, I'm not pointing the finger at MCD here. It passed an FPGA update, and has no PCB board or other inconsistencies. A sticker is hardly merit enough to call fake on. They have always been prompt about shipping and errors, so I have no complaints.

 

[Gamemaster1379]

I should send gateway an email, with the picture, and the question if they changed colors on the stickers

They both passed FPGA updates, so it's reasonable to believe they are legitimate.

 

[tony_2018]

If you ordered it from an official reseller than the issue is a faulty card. Contact them about it and voice your concerns.

 

[Gamemaster1379]

If you ordered it from an official reseller than the issue is a faulty card. Contact them about it and voice your concerns.

I didn't check, but they apparently are. I was just going off past order experiences with them. And I've done so already.

 

[netovsk]

Gateway sure is a faulty/buggy piece of hardware but the shortening sounds are a bit too much, replace yeah.

 

[Xzi]

Gateway sure is a faulty/buggy piece of hardware but the shortening sounds are a bit too much, replace yeah.

No more or less than any flash cart is. They're all pretty cheap-feeling because they're pretty much all made in China. You just have to hope you don't get one DOA like you would with a HDD or GPU.

 

[eggsample]

Don't worry about colors.
From batch to another could be some differences between labels. It's normal.
In the middle is my latest batch which is a bit brighter than labels form January.

Distributor sends too much labels sometimes
Seldom less :/